Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, one of the key swing votes in Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, has broken with her party and says she will vote against confirming Kavanaugh.

“I believe that Brett Kavanaugh is a good man, I believe he is a good man. But it just may be that in my view he’s not the right man for the court at this time,” she said after Friday’s cloture vote. “This has truly been the most difficult evaluation of a decision that I’ve ever had to make and I’ve made some interesting ones in my political career.”

“The truth is that none of this has been fair,” Murkowski said.

Politico reported that Murkowski has been meeting with sexual assault survivors throughout the week and revealed that she, too, is a survivor of sexual assault. Her decision to vote no against party lines is significant, and a good deal of credit should go to the Native women who have been pressuring her to oppose Kavanaugh.

Alaska’s indigenous groups and make up 15 percent of the state’s population and Murkowski knows that Native people represent a strong part of her base. Even before three women accused Kavanaugh of misconduct, the Alaska Federation of Natives voiced concern over Kavanaugh’s opinions on constitutional protections for Native American tribes.

The state has the highest reported incidences of rape in the country, and according to the Indian Law Resource Center, Alaskan Native Women suffer the highest rate of assault in the country. Native women are victimized at disproportionately higher rates than other women—according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Intimate Partner and S. V. Survey, nearly half have experienced violence or unwanted contact, and about one in three Native women has experienced assault or attempted assault.

“As a woman, mother, and survivor, I’m both terrified of and infuriated by the possibility of a Kavanaugh nomination,” Suzy Walsh of Alaska Grassroots Alliance said in a statement at Capitol Hill in September. “I am begging Senator Murkowski not to appoint a serial abuser to the Supreme Court. At the end of the day, women’s rights are human rights—and Alaskan women deserve better. We all deserve better.”

Murkowski was the only Republican to break ranks and vote against the cloture process, which limits debate to 30 hours before the motion proceeds to a final vote. The motion passed by one vote.Source

I appreciate the support given by Native Women in advocating for protection of women. I am aware that Native Women are at a higher risk for assault, often from men who come onto the reservation from outside. Women must unite to protect each other, their daughters and granddaughters. Thank you

Thank you very much for your standing for truth and protection of women. Native American women and other minority females have a higher risk of being assaulted, raped and or abused. This is a travesty. Women of all ages, races,economic staus must fight together for our rights as God commanded, Thank you again and thank Senator Murkowski.

Thank you so much to the Native women of Alaska and to Sen. Murkowski. You gave us a strong light ray of hope. Yes, there is still much work to do, but this was a significant move to support some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Thank you for your courage....women everywhere support you. This appointment is a disgrace and a travesty. Hopefully somehow it will be brought to light At least it triggered a huge response and women can no longer keep quiet and men will HAVE to listen.

MURKOWSKI might have listened to native women elders (it was a great photo op for her) but she didn't ***ACT*** on what she learned from them !!!! Murkowski voted against cloture. At the actual vote, she voted "present." If she and that WV Democrat had both actually voted "no" we would not have Kavenaugh at this moment. She talks from 2 sides of her mouth!!!